| turned out to be one of those textbook beautiful days. | | | | soaking wet and kicking the flat tire for being flat. It |
| The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing softly and the | | | | does no good. |
| temperature is just right -- the perfect day. Even with | | | | So you ask me, "How then do I deal with my |
| all the challenges I have to face, I still look up at the sky | | | | problems?" The first most important thing is to |
| and smile as the clouds chase one another across a | | | | disconnect from the problem. By this, I don't mean that |
| "picture-perfect", blue background. | | | | you pretend that the problem doesn't exist. It does |
| But I know that all the days to come will not be as | | | | exist, so get all the facts you can and then let it be. |
| beautiful and comfortable as this day is. Yesterday | | | | Break focus with it. This way, your subconscious mind |
| was dark and dreary, pierced with giant streaks of | | | | will work towards a solution. |
| lightning, which generated thunder that rattled the | | | | When we force our minds to be totally focussed on |
| windows. | | | | the problem, when we do not let it go, even for a short |
| Yes, I know that all the days that follow today will not | | | | while, we deny the subconscious mechanism the |
| be as bright as this one, nor as dark as yesterday. | | | | power it has to help resolve the crisis. We must let it |
| Some days will be better than others. Some will be | | | | go. We must take a break from thinking about the |
| worse. And I do not know which ones will or won't. | | | | problem. |
| But this one thing I know: There will be change. There | | | | Do whatever you can to break focus. Since all things |
| will be ups and there will be downs. That's how life is -- | | | | have energy, even our problems are energy "things". If |
| there are good times and not so good times. The | | | | we focus on the problem too long, we energize it and |
| good times will not last forever. Every now and then, | | | | make it stronger. By letting go and switching our focus, |
| there will be rough times. But remember, even the | | | | we shift our energy away from the problem and are |
| worst times won't last either. | | | | now "energizing" the solution. |
| The trick is to enjoy the good times and make the | | | | Does it matter how big the problem is? Not really. The |
| most of them; to tolerate the rough times and know | | | | Higher Self knows the answer to every problem we |
| that they won't last forever. Generally, it appears that | | | | could ever encounter. The size of the problem is not |
| the good times seem to go so fast and the bad times | | | | important. What is important is how we look at the |
| seem to last forever, but this is not really so. It is our | | | | problem. Withdraw your attention from it for a short |
| experience of time that makes it seem that way. | | | | while a number of times a day. |
| Five minutes in my dentist's chair may feel like an | | | | During those times, don't look at the facts. You've |
| eternity, whereas sixty minutes spent chatting with a | | | | already done that. Just look away from the facts to |
| friend may seem like just a few seconds. What we | | | | something pleasant, maybe listen to some good music, |
| are dealing with here is a matter of focus. Let me | | | | watch a great movie, go for a walk, talk to a good |
| explain. | | | | friend, read a good book. Just break focus with the |
| Whenever we encounter difficult problems, the | | | | problem for a short while. |
| tendency is to focus so intensely in trying to arrive at a | | | | If you do this, you will notice that the problem will |
| solution that we become all tense and tied up in knots. | | | | appear to be less and less formidable. And somehow, |
| When that occurs, we tend to become frustrated, | | | | in some way, you will get the guidance to do what's |
| fearful and sometimes angry. The problem here is that | | | | necessary to overcome the challenge. It may be that |
| we're trying to force a solution instead of allowing a | | | | your car is being repossessed, the house is being |
| solution. | | | | foreclosed, a close friend or relative or even you |
| Anger could be expected, but prolonged anger is | | | | yourself may be battling poor health. Doesn't matter |
| harmful to body, mind and spirit. It was the great author | | | | what the problem is, break focus, allow calm, quiet and |
| and lecturer, Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross who said, | | | | hope to flow through your mind. |
| "Natural anger lasts for only about seventeen | | | | As you practice doing this, almost magically, things will |
| seconds". Anything beyond that is a reaction to | | | | start to change; you will feel better, more hopeful, more |
| circumstances or remembered situations. | | | | empowered. And you will think more clearly. You will |
| Fear is one of our deadliest enemies. The fear I refer | | | | hear the "still small" voice within giving you the guidance |
| to is the type that causes us to stay awake at night | | | | you need. |
| conjuring up all the terrible things that could happen | | | | Don't take my word for it. Just try it and see for |
| because of the unsolved problems we're facing. This | | | | yourself. You have nothing to lose except your |
| kind of fear is dangerous, self-defeating and downright | | | | problems. And you have everything to gain. |
| useless. It shakes our very foundations and needlessly | | | | Next time I'll reveal how to use various sources of |
| drains us of energy. | | | | inspiration to keep on going when it seems that the |
| And to be frustrated is natural. But let us not dwell on | | | | road has been too long and dark. Remember, Morning |
| the frustration. It's like having a flat tire while driving in a | | | | has been all night coming, but see how surely it comes. |
| thunderstorm and getting out of the car, becoming | | | | |